To paraphrase Dr. Lu from the dedication at the front of one of his books, ‘If the ocean were made of ink, I still couldn’t write enough to express my gratitude for what Dr. Lu taught me,’ as a humble channel for the 5,000-year-old lineage of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). After 20+ years of benefiting from the wisdom framework of TCM, this year came with the most significant and indescribable quantum shift that saved and healed my life.

After the most terrifying year of what started to happen to my body, a slew of Western doctors could not figure out what was happening. They said things like, “You can use a brace for your hands” to help write on the keyboard, as I could no longer use my hands to type, and I am a professional writer. 

Or, “Oh, that’s just arthritis and can’t be helped.” 

Or, “You have a parasite and need to go on extended antibiotics and antivirals…” 

The correlation between our souls, hearts, and physical pain became crystal clear. 

Thanks to what finally sunk in from Dr. Lu’s books, lectures, and appointments, as well as Tatiana’s dedicated, caring help (and Deborah’s), I finally assimilated the knowledge that “the invisible is vastly more powerful than the visible!” Anger is perhaps the most dangerous pathogen, as well as putting our happiness and our needs second to anything else. 

I can still picture Dr. Lu in my visit last summer (2023), with his adorably comical and lighthearted way about him, that fervent face dismissing the “physical” parasite as the great peril, as he pointed to my head, reminding me that the parasite is in my mind. It’s how I choose to think and look at things! 

I trust myself now, listen to my intuition without hesitation or apology, assert my needs, have humbly fallen in love with my self, and have consciously created a life that makes me thrilled to wake up to every day. I have a new job working with animals. Nothing brings me more joy than dogs and cats. I have a new home situation. I’m in my family home after healing my relationship with my father and sister: letting go of anger! I give no one the power to manipulate my mood or emotions anymore. I have a new relationship with my self after leaving one that wasn’t working for five years. And I say yes when I mean yes and no when I mean no. Plus, I have published the first of my two books, with the second in production. 

I have no pain now, and no limitations, and have never felt freer, happier, healthier, or more fearless. This will only continue because I believe I am a reflection of Mother Nature, who is invincible, no matter what humans have misguidedly done to her for millions of years. She keeps healing, thriving, and flourishing, as I will, too. 

– Gretchen Astro Turner